Budget gaming PC >$900

[mizdahsparklez]

Approximate Purchase Date: This month

Budget Range: less than $900 after rebates

System Usage from Most to Least Important: gaming, video encoding

Parts Not Required: peripherals

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: newegg, amazon, tigerdirect

Country: US

Parts Preferences: intel based cpu

Overclocking: no

SLI or Crossfire: no

Monitor Resolution: highest i can get

Additional Comments:


Hey guys, I'm going for my second build and I wanted to make an intel based system with a little more power than my last amd build without going over budget. Here is what I have so far:

CD: ASUS DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS Black SATA 24X DVD Burner - Bulk - OEM
VC: MSI N560GTX-TI Twin Frozr II/OC GeForce GTX 560 Ti (Fermi) 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video ...
PSU: CORSAIR Enthusiast Series TX750 V2 750W ATX12V v2.31/ EPS12V v2.92 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Active PFC High Performance Power ...
RAM: G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL9D-4GBRL
MOBO: GIGABYTE GA-Z68MA-D2H-B3 LGA 1155 Intel Z68 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 Micro ATX Intel Motherboard
CPU: Intel Core i5-2500K Sandy Bridge 3.3GHz (3.7GHz Turbo Boost) LGA 1155 95W Quad-Core Desktop Processor Intel HD Graphics 3000 ...
CASE: NZXT Apollo Black SECC Steel Chassis ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
FAN: XIGMATEK Gaia SD1283 120mm Long Life Bearing CPU Cooler bracket included LGA 2011 i7 i5 775 1155 AMD and dual fan push pull ...

total right now after rebate - $839

I would like to place emphasis on longevity and keeping a cool system.

Any and all suggestions are appreciated!

 

[vx53c]

Your motherboard is 4+1 phases. I wouldn't overclock if i were you. And if you don't want to OC then don't get the 2500k.
Also get a 6950 instead or hop higher to 570.
8giga of low profile and if you are not interested in OC and SLI/Xfire your PSU is an overkill, a 500watts will do nicely.

So, here are my suggestions to you:
Keep the mobo, get a i5 2400
6950 1gb the cheapest you find
8gb of 1600mhz ram, the cheapest credible you find (go high profile if you wish)
toss the cooler, 2400 doesn't need it.
500-550watts from a solid psu.

 

[mizdahsparklez]

Can you explain why the 2400 is more suitable for me than the 2500? I really only see the ghz difference. This is also so I can learn more about builds.

Also, how does jumping from 4gb to 8gb of ram improve performance? Doesn't 4gb suffice for the parts I have right now?

 

[vx53c]

2400 is not unlocked processor, meaning you can't overclock it (well you can but it is harder than the k versions). You don't wish to OC so there is no need for an unlocked processor. Also no OC means no aftermarket cooler which saves you some money.
8giga is the norm for gaming and you will see difference between 4gb.
The price difference is like 25$, no reason not to go for it as there ARE benefits. Between 8 and 16 though, there aren't any. Thus 8 is the norm and what every gamer with a quad core should get.
Also while speaking about gaming, difference between 2400 and 2500k can't be felt. More insight here: http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/gaming-cpu-overclocking,review-32306-3.html and on the next page where they talk about the 2500k.

 

[calguyhunk]

CPU: $215 Intel Core i5-2500K

Board: $130 GIGABYTE GA-Z68A-D3H-B3 - better VRM cooling and sturdier compared to the Asrock board for 2x bigger cards. Bit-tech got the 2500K chip to 5.0 on air on this one. X16/X8 SLI

RAM: $30 Kingston HyperX 8GB

HDD: $120 OCZ 120GB Vertex Plus

GPU: $250 EVGA 01G-P3-1561-AR GeForce GTX 560 Ti FPB

PSU: $90 CORSAIR Enthusiast Series TX750 V2 - will SLI your 560ti as & when you decide to go that way. If you don't want that option, get a cheaper 500 odd watt PSU. The $65 Seasonic S12II 520, is the one I'll go with

Case: $40 COOLER MASTER Elite 430 - side window, black interiors, good airflow and accommodates 12" long gfx cards.

HSF: $25 COOLER MASTER Hyper 212 Plus

Total: $890 after rebates. Less with the 520 watt PSU. if you don't want the SLI option in the future.

 

[mizdahsparklez]

Thanks for all the replies.

what would be the differences between the gtx 560 and the radeon 6950 2gb? Would I be wasting my money on the 6950?

 

[vx53c]

on the contrary

 

[calguyhunk]

GTX 560ti mostly trades blows with the 6950. The 1GB version under-performs the reference 560ti in most games while outperforming in some, whereas the 2GB version mostly gets the better of the 560ti though it still depends on the game you play - GTX 560ti vs. 6950 2GB

EDIT: Getting the 2GB version may also give you the option to flash it to a 6970, though I won't be betting on that. And in any case, AMD might be, by now disabling the extra shaders in 'em for good (substrate instead of the VGA BIOS).

This one was definitely unlockable the last time I checked - ASUS EAH6950 DCII/2DI4S/2GD5 Radeon HD 6950 2GB

Then again, you can always get the GTX 570 and be done with for a 100 odd bucks more than the 560ti.

 

[vx53c]

It also depends on the manufacturer. I have the OC 6950 1gb Gigabyte that will outperform most 2gb flashed to 6970 or not.
I agree that if the money can get you there you should get the 570 but it all depends on your resolution. If you don' have a 27" or more monitor any will do for a long time
ATTENTION: The gigabyte i mentioned is 11"

 

[mizdahsparklez]

Best answer selected by mizdahsparklez.